Virginia played a significant role in the Civil War and became a major battleground between Union and Confederate troops. In 26 major battles and more than 400 military conflicts of the Civil War, moremen fought and died in Virginia than in any other state.

Battle of Bull Run or Manassas (July of 1861)The Battle of Bull Run or Manassas was the first major clash of the Civil War in Virginia that occurred on July 21, 1861. Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and his men played a major role in stopping the Union advances.

Sea Battle of the USS Monitor and the USS Merrimack /CSS Virginia (March of 1862)President Abraham Lincoln used the Union Navy to blockade southern seaports to disrupt the Confederacy’s military transportation route. A key sea battle between two ironclad ships, the Monitor (Union/North) and the Merrimack (Confederate/South, also known as the Virginia), took place in Virginia waters near Norfolk and Hampton. The four-hour battle was fought to a draw (TIE)

Battle of Fredericksburg (December of 1862)General Robert E. Lee, Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, defeated the Union forces.

Battle of Richmond (1865)Since the Capitol of the Confederacy was located in Richmond, Virginia, Union forces attacked it constantly. Union General Ulysses S. Grant captured Richmond on April 3, 1865. But before the Confederate soldiers left, they set fire to their own arsenal (armory) to keep weapons out of Union hands. The fire spread out of control and destroyed at least half of the city.

Appomattox Court HouseThe Civil War ended in the home of Wilmer McLean at Appomattox CourtHouse, Virginia, where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865.

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